NEWS
–A Stearns County District Court judge is on the shortlist to fill one of two vacancies coming to the Minnesota Supreme Court. Earlier this year, Governor Tim Walz asked a selection panel to find candidates to sit on the highest court in the state. On Monday, the panel recommended six finalists to fill two seats. Making the list was Sarah Hennesy, who is the chief judge of the Seventh Judicial District and is chambered in St. Cloud. She previously practiced law in appellate and trial courts as a public defender and criminal defense attorney in Washington, D.C. and as a staff attorney at Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid in St. Cloud. The open spots will occur with the retirement of the Honorable G. Barry Anderson and the Honorable Margaret H. Chutich.
--Hunters in north-central and northeastern Minnesota must apply for a shot at taking a black bear. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has made 4,030 licenses available in 15 quota areas for the 2024 season. The number of animals allowed to be harvested each year depends on the population trends for that zone. Don’t get caught hibernating. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 3rd. Get your name in the hat online, at any license agent, or by phone at 888-665-4236. Lottery winners will be notified on June 1st and must buy their tag by August 1st. Any leftover licenses will be available over the counter starting at noon on August 6th. The bear hunting season is September 1st through October 13th.
–The Brainerd Fire Department responded to a house fire at 6:54am Sunday, March 31, on the 300 block of North Ninth Street. Fire crews extinguished the fire and performed salvage and overhaul of the property. No injuries were reported. Crews also battled a gas leak a home Sunday at 7am on Birchridge Road. Fire crews investigated and determined it to be an equipment use error. Crews ventilated the home and cleared the scene. They also were called on two different occasions on outdoor burning, reminding those to check with the DNR on burning permits if they are being issued at this time.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office Emergency Management wants to remind everyone that Severe Weather Awareness Week is next week April 8th through the 12th. On Thursday, April 11th, Morrison County will be participating in the Statewide Tornado Drills with sirens being activated at 1:45PM and 6:45PM. Outdoor warning sirens will sound in a simulated tornado warning. The tornado drills allow everyone in the community to practice their emergency plans for tornadoes. The first drill is intended for institutions and businesses. The evening drill is intended for second shift workers and families. There is no such thing as an “all- clear” siren. Daily topics during Severe Weather Awareness Week are Monday- Alerts and Warnings; Tuesday- Severe Weather, Lightning and Hail; Wednesday- Floods; Thursday- Tornadoes (with Statewide Tornado Drills) and Friday- Extreme Heat and Wildfires. The sheriff's office want the public to be prepared for any severe weather situations.
--WE Fest has announced the daily lineup for the main stage at the 2024 three day event August 1st-3rd in Detroit Lakes. Thursday's highlights include Jelly Roll, The Bellamy Brothers, and Lauren Watkins, Friday will feature Carly Pearce, and Trace Adkins, with Eric Church and Elle King headlining Saturday shows.
--Join Bill Messershmidt for a Pipe Organ Concert this Friday at 7pm at Our Lady of Lourdes Church with classical and other music items to enjoy. This is a Free Will Offering with the proceeds going to the Labor of Love Thrift Store in northeast Little Falls.
--A North Carolina woman wanted on a St. Cloud stabbing charge from six years ago has pleaded guilty. Thirty-year-old Kathilina Garcia was found and extradited to Stearns County in February. She pleaded guilty to a charge of 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon causing substantial bodily harm in March. The incident happened at a residence in the 1500 block of Northway Drive in January 2018. According to the criminal complaint, police responded to the scene and found a man with a stab wound to his ribcage area with a portion of his intestine protruding from the wound. The man said Garcia was at the residence and was extremely drunk. When the victim told Garcia she had to leave, she allegedly became enraged and began threatening him with a butterfly knife. Court records allege Garcia slapped and hit the man and swung the knife at him several times before stabbing him. The injury was determined to be life-threatening and emergency surgery was performed on the victim. Records show, that when police tried to arrest Garcia, she was out of control, yelling, physically resisting officers, and tried to hit her head against objects. Multiple officers were required to get her into custody. Garcia will be sentenced on May 9th.
--Meghann Boser of the Morrison County United Way announced that their community impact night postponed last week due to snow, has been rescheduled for Monday, April 8th at 4:30pm at Pizza Ranch.
DEATH NOTICES
--Michael A. Breden, age 51 of Little Falls.
--Joyce W. Nikolai, age 91 of Little Falls.
--Arvin Litke, age 91 of Pierz.
--Pamela Cadotte-Kollmann, age 73 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, very windy, high 48.
TONIGHT= clear skies, breezy conditions, low 28.
THURSDAY= sunny and less windy, high 50, low near 30.
FRIDAY= sunny and pleasant, high 53, low near 32.
SPORTS
TWINS= Brewers hold off the Twins 3-2 yesterday in Milwaukee. The Twins and Milwaukee wrap up their 2 game series today with pregame at 11:30am on Q92 WYRQ.
COL BB= Gopher women in the WNIT tonight against Troy in the women's semi-finals. Also it was reported that the Iowa win over LSU in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Monday night was the most watch women's college sports match of all time as 12.3 million viewers tuned in to watch Caitlyn Clark and Iowa advance on.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1860= Pony Express begins in St. Joseph, Missouri.
IN 1936= shortest boxing match ever, Al Carr wins in 7 seconds.
IN 1948= first United States Figure Skating Championships held.
IN 1953= first edition of TV guide published. Lucy's $50-million dollar baby is the title with pictures of Lucille Ball and baby Desi Arnaz Jr.
IN 1956= Elvis Presley appears in “The Rainmaker”, just a cameo.
IN 1960= Elvis Presley records first songs after returning for the Army “It's Now or Never” and “Are You Lonesome Tonight”
IN 1968= “Planet of the Apes” debuts in theaters w/Charlton Heston.